Landon Collins

[VeveJones007]

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

It would give us one more pick in the draft to potentially use on the dline.

I meant that it won’t in adversely affect it, but that might be a fair assessment as well. Though, I fully expect Ballard to draft DL & EDGE at 26 and 34 regardless of what happens in UFA.

[sherck]

So, looking down a list of "best free agents" available in 2019, I was struck by how many young, quality safeties are hitting free agency:

Landon Collins, NYG, 25
Adrian Amos, CHI, 26
Earl Thomas, SEA, 30
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, 26
Lamarcus Joyner, LAR, 28
Clayton Geathers, IND, 27
Tre Boston, ARI, 27

That is Water Football's rankings of the top seven safeties on the open market (with Mike Mitchell at #11 and Matthias Farley at #12 as an RFA). His rankings are not out of line with other rankings that I have seen.

Other that Thomas, all are under 30 and all are talented. If Collins wants too much, I have little doubt that one of the others will be in our price range.

Hooker, Free Agent, Geathers and Farley along with a lower round draft pick (of the ball hawking variety) is a good looking safety position group.

I hope that free agent is Collins but I would be happy with about anyone on that list.

Walk Worthy,

[FatDT]

FA safeties have not been getting paid the last few years. I don't know why that position has been devalued but the top 5 highest-paid safeties right now (by annual salary) are

Eric Berry - KC - $13M/year
Reshad Jones - MIA - $12M/year
Kam Chancellor - SEA - $12M/year
Harrison Smith - MIN - $10M/year
Devin McCourty - NE - $9.5M/year

The Colts can afford that type of salary easily. The question is just whether or not they want to.

[VeveJones007]

Originally Posted by FatDT

FA safeties have not been getting paid the last few years. I don't know why that position has been devalued but the top 5 highest-paid safeties right now (by annual salary) are

Eric Berry - KC - $13M/year
Reshad Jones - MIA - $12M/year
Kam Chancellor - SEA - $12M/year
Harrison Smith - MIN - $10M/year
Devin McCourty - NE - $9.5M/year

The Colts can afford that type of salary easily. The question is just whether or not they want to.

Yep. I think Collins negotiations start at 5/60/30, with something like 5/65/33 getting it done. I don't know if Ballard wants to go that high, but it does sound like Collins is a good fit culture-wise and in the locker room. This will be an interesting test case to see if Ballard goes harder for certain exceptions.

[omahacolt]

Originally Posted by VeveJones007

I meant that it won’t in adversely affect it, but that might be a fair assessment as well. Though, I fully expect Ballard to draft DL & EDGE at 26 and 34 regardless of what happens in UFA.

I have no issue bringing in Collins if Ballard thinks he is an upgrade. Safety isn’t a top need like Puck thinks.n

[Coltsalr]

@RapSheet
The #Giants have now informed S Landon Collins that he won’t be franchise tagged, putting a top player on the free agent market, sources say.

He’s hitting the open market!

If the Colts don’t get him it’ll be because Ballard didn’t want him.

[Coltsalr]

Ebron appears to agree with me:

https://twitter.com/ebron85/status/1...992795138?s=21

[rcubed]

Originally Posted by omahacolt

I have no issue bringing in Collins if Ballard thinks he is an upgrade. Safety isn’t a top need like Puck thinks.n

when you say not a top need, are you assuming farley and geathers will be back?

[VeveJones007]

Originally Posted by omahacolt

I have no issue bringing in Collins if Ballard thinks he is an upgrade. Safety isn’t a top need like Puck thinks.n

One thing to keep in mind is that Eberflus was in the same division as Collins in 2016-2017. Even though Eberflus is scheming against offenses, you have to think he would have a good impression of Collins and whether or not he would be a good fit with what he wants to do.

[VeveJones007]

Originally Posted by Coltsalr

@RapSheet
The #Giants have now informed S Landon Collins that he won’t be franchise tagged, putting a top player on the free agent market, sources say.

He’s hitting the open market!

If the Colts don’t get him it’ll be because Ballard didn’t want him.

I disagree with the bold. Collins will be a key target for many teams. Money will be roughly equivalent for several offers, meaning that Collins can pick location, team, and scheme.

He's from Louisiana, so maybe he would prefer a team in the southeast? Maybe he'd like to be in a more attacking-oriented scheme?